The Working of an International Shipping Calculator

Sending a consignment internationally requires some experience if the process has to be less of a tussle. Knowledge of the shipping requirements is essential for the consignment to be sent in time. Otherwise, there will be unnecessary delays at the shipping company as the consignment waits to be cleared before shipping. One should be aware of the relevant requirements that pertain to shipment of cargo especially when it is international. One field that the consignees tend to ignore is the international shipping calculator. This calculator determines how much it will cost to transport cargo from one place to another bearing in mind other specifications of the consignment. The following are important in understanding how an international shipping calculator works.

First, the length of the cargo or container is considered. This is normally measured in inches or feet depending on the length of the container. Even if the goods are stacked in a pallet, the length of the pallet will be measured and this will help in calculating the shipping rates to be applied. In common understanding, the longer the container, the higher the shipping rates while the shorter the length of the container, the cheaper the rates will be. Length of the container therefore needs to be borne in mind.

The width of the container has also to be considered. When shipping consignments to international destinations, the cargo is normally placed in containers so that proper measurements can be taken. Where goods do not fit into a container, they are normally arranged in pallets and the width of the pallet is measured. This, together with the length is used to calculate the area covered by the consignment which will help arrive at the rates to be applied. The more the width, the higher the rates while the shorter the width, the lower rates to be charged.

The length and width are used to calculate the area covered by the consignment. For the calculation to be complete, the height is also required by the international shipping calculator. When the three are combined, the volume of the consignment is arrived at. This is the ultimate measurement applied in the international shipping calculator. Consignments that are very voluminous occupying a lot of space are normally charged dearly as compared to those that are less voluminous. The volume is normally calculated in cubic feet or meters depending on the volume of the consignment. Bigger consignments are measured in meters while smaller consignments are measured in feet.

Another important component of the international shipping calculator is the weight of the consignment. This is the factor that determines how many consignments or cargo will be transported. Any shipping vessel has a maximum limit of tonnage that it is allowed to carry. If the consignments are too heavy, it means that few will be carried during a single trip. This will in turn result to high shipping rates as per the international shipping calculator. When the length, width, height and weight of the consignment are combined, the freight rate is determined.